As a published crime writer I'm going to post what it's like to be a professional writer, the good and the bad days, writing and not writing.

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

First Review

So the safety is over. The critics are out. I got my first review from Kirkus today. Actually, it won't be published until next week, but my editor sent me a preview.

For those who don't know what Kirkus is, it's a publishing trade journal. I've never seen an actual copy of it, but it has a reputation for giving nasty, unsigned reviews. The joke is, if you get a good review from Kirkus you'd better watch out. I don't think I've ever gotten a good one from them.

Now I've gotten a review for This Dame For Hire and for Kirkus it's not bad. It's not great, but I never thought it would be. Mostly it lists the names of the characters, (for no reason I can understand) sums up the plot and is damned with faint praise at the end. And there is really only one line in it that bothers me.

Thank goodness I've gotten past the place in my career where a so-so review doesn't disturb me that much. And I have to remember it's Kirkus.